Buzzwords like Meta and western wear are all part of the tech news that made its way through Austin last week. See what you might have missed. This is the Built In Austin weekly refresh.
Meta announced plans to grow in Austin. Facebook’s parent company Meta announced plans for a big office space in Austin — half of a 66-story skyscraper. Although the building won’t be complete until 2023, Meta plans to hire more than 400 new employees in the next few months. [Built In Austin]
Tecovas gained $56M. Tecovas, the famous Austin-based brand known for making leather cowboy boots, gained a whopping $56 million in Series C funding. What sets Tecovas apart from other brands is its direct-to-consumer business model, allowing anyone to buy fine leather goods online. The funding will allow the company to continue its expansion to gain more customers and grow its internal team. Tecovas plans to hire at least 40 new team members by the end of the year. [Built In Austin]
AUSTIN TECH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The Helper Bees gained $12.8M. The Helper Bees is an insurtech company that allows people to age at home — instead of a housing residence or hospice — with the help of insurance providers. The company gained $12.8 million in a Series B funding round led by Trust Ventures. The Helper Bees offers an Aging-In-Place Marketplace that provides all types of services to those aging in their home. The funding will go toward expanding these services and reaching more Americans. [Built In Austin]
Sana partnered with Proactive MD. Sana, an Austin-based insurtech startup, provides healthcare plans to small businesses at a reduced cost. The company just opened its first clinic and has teamed up with Proactive MD to open an advanced primary healthcare center called Sona MD. Proactive MD is a primary care provider thats creates and delivers specific health plans for its clients. Sona MD will be the first-of-its-kind care with a value-based care model. [BusinessWire]
Invicti Security named CFO. Jeff Bray is joining the company from Rapid7, where he built out teams focused on financial planning, investor relations and business intelligence. The company says it experienced rapid growth in 2021 by adding 750 new customers and achieving net dollar retention of 124 percent. It raised a staggering $625 million last October. [PR Newswire]
